Getting Off NetHack? 141
thetan asks: "Like a lot of Slashdot readers, I've played a little NetHack as a teenager. Alright, quite a lot - but it was no big deal and I just sort of grew out of it. Now I'm not proud of this, but I got my gf hooked and she's been using daily for a few years now. After she tired of the game, I tried sating the monkey on her back with new fixes like Angband and ADOM. Now, I no longer want be a party to her addiction and self-destruction. She acknowledges the problem but is not yet ready to take that first step. What can I do to help ween her off? Could interactive fiction act as a methadone - or does it result in just as much harm? What other strategies have users employed to get clean? Does anyone know of NetHack addiction support groups or a 12-step? I'm desperate to get her back!"
Are you insane? (Score:5, Insightful)
Trying to reject the fantasy adventure bug is just silly... use it as a point of common interest. If you insist on allowing her to continue adventuring alone, my wife loves the Heros of Might and Magic/Age of Magic type games on her laptop when traveling. I think you would be ill advised to get between your girlfriend and her enjoyment though. It will be far *more* damaging to *your* enjoyment than just going with the flow.
Re:Are you insane? (Score:2)
Re:Are you insane? (Score:2)
Re:Are you insane? (Score:2)
The real enduring beauty of Nethack though is the turn based nature, which translates poorly into multi-play and the character set "graphics" which engage the imagination far more t
Re:Are you insane? (Score:2, Informative)
Unfortunately online play necessitates timing turns to ~ a second.
Re:Are you insane? (Score:1)
Go look at the rec.games.roguelike.nethack Usenet group. There's often talk about this-or-that tournament server being up or down. I haven't bothered to find out exactly what they mean. I suppose it's mostly a matter of sharing the highscore l
Re:Are you insane? (Score:2)
Having recently gotten over my own MMO addiction, I can't see recommending that anybody urge anybody else (particularly their spouse) to get into MMOs. Couple-friendly offline co-op games, like Diablo (which you also suggest) I can see, but I'm begging the OP, don't go MMO.
Re:Are you insane? (Score:2)
Re:Are you insane? (Score:2)
Then she had a baby two months ago and I think we've logged on twice
Obviously... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Obviously... (Score:2)
In game or in real life. I see problems with the first, as she'd probably kick his ass, and I see a problem with the second as she'd probably kick his ass.
Go with it! Roleplay (Score:5, Funny)
Dress yourself up as a giant '@' sign.
Approach your girlfriend and let the fun begin.
If she jumps your bones, all is well.
If she attacks you, don't worry, the dog will jump in and protect you.
Re:Go with it! Roleplay (Score:1)
Re:Go with it! Roleplay (Score:2)
Careful where you stand (Score:2)
Try this (Score:1, Funny)
She won't be able to cope with that coming from the man who introduced her to nethack.
Walk up to her, give her a long speech "...I simply can't stand you playing these games all the time. I have tried, God knows I have tried, but I can't take it anymore. As long as you continue doing this, to me, you are dead. Do you want your posessions identified?".
Yer Funny (Score:2)
Nothing you can do (Score:3)
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:5, Informative)
People who are addicted to anything may have a chemical imbalance, but if they're addicted to something like this, it is likely she is using it as a crutch instead of dealing with other problems. Her life may be unfulfilling or she may just not deal well with reality. If this is a true addiction, and you aren't just using hyperbole, then she likely needs professional help. HOWEVER, she has to make the decision that she has a problem and seek help. If she is just doing it because you push her into it, she is doing it for you and not for herself, and a relapse would be easy.
Remember that now it is a problem for you, but not for her. It makes her happy and causes no problems for her, that she can see. You can't change another person. You can only hope they see they have a problem and seek help. If she never realizes she has a problem, then you won't be able to do anything effective and it may be time to move on.
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:4, Insightful)
That metaphor has always boggled me. Since when were crutches bad? Who uses crutches when they don't need to? Is this some kind of epidemic I've never heard of?
Addictions aren't like crutches. They're like addictions.
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
It's that simple.
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
There is no simpler way to put it. I'm not being overly literal when I say that has nothing to do with a "crutch".
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
A metaphor is a comparison to help an explanation. That does not mean the metaphor is literally the same.
For example, someone might need a crutch, but after a while, instead of using the leg and letting it get stronger, they always use the crutch instead of facing the pain of rehabilitation. That's where the metaphor comes from.
But trying to help a person who can o
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
Please, consider the possibility that I actually had a point and that I'm not mentally limited in such a way that I "can only understand literal meanings".
I might be wrong here, but I am quite capable of all types of abstract thought.
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
Oh. Okay. I see. You expect everyone throughout the world to behave exactly as you expect from your experience. So if it is in your experience it is true. Otherwise it just doesn't happen.
Yes, you have a point, but one that is only true in a very limited part of reality and when you look at all of reality, there is more to it than that.
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
Otherwise, your experience coincides with mine, & perhaps crutches aren't exactly the best metaphor for addictive drugs. Because crutches almost always a good thing in real life.
Ugh.
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
As to your experience and mine coinciding, my experience includes many of the patients I dealt with in treatment situations in the institutions I worked in as well as the physical therapists I worked with and all the other trained professionals I worked with who worked with people recovering from mental and physical problems and injuries. In my original post I point
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
A crutch is something to lean on, something to support one's weight instead of the person supporting themselves. The most often seen use is for people with an injured leg, but there are many times people use a crutch when they don't need one. They just don't want to face the effort and/or pain in fully supporting themselves. The same is true when you're talking about psychological crutches -- in fact more so.
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
Though now that you mention it, it is kind of a silly metaphor.
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
You're either trolling, or you don't know what you're talking about and think your one experience is going to be like all others in situations anywhere near similar. It is for those who have a hammer so they think every problem is a nail.
You don't know what went thorugh your girlfriend's mind and what lead to the situation. It may be that she was considering going, but didn't want to tell you and maybe you don't want to acknowledge that it might have b
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:3, Interesting)
Its only an issue if it causes a problem. In fact, thats part of the very definition of any mental disorder. Check out the DSM if you want... unless there is a problem, there is no disease.
It doesn't matter if you see angels and deamons sitting on peoples shoulders telling you what to do. As long as thats not causing a problem for you in your job, social interaction,
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:4, Funny)
For example, find that flag that gets set if you eat your pet and turn it on at the beginning of the game. Turn up the odds on spontaneous monster creation, etc. Take scrolls of Remove Curse out of the game and crank up the odds on a water demon being created if you dip things in fountains...
She'll think she's lost her touch, and get disgusted, and quit. Of course, she may also smash your computer into little, eensy, weensy, tiny pieces first...
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
WTF? You can "win" NETHACK?! Is that in the FAQ?!
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
Yeah, you can ascend to demigod status. There are some darned good players out there who can do it on a regular basis (Marvin ascended 13 straight characters in the annual nethack tournament this year, one of every class and he mixed up races/alignments so he had one of each). I've only managed 7 so far (valkyrie, tourist, archaeologist, wizard, caveman, ranger, rogue). I'm working on a weaponless, body-armorless, vegetarian monk right now.
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:1)
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:2)
"Two wands of wishing on the first level! What are the odds?"
Re:Nothing you can do (Score:5, Funny)
Well, hack up the sources for your local copy of Nethack to make it much much harder.
"There is another theory, which states that this has already happened..."
Give her my number, I'll fix things just fine (Score:5, Interesting)
See, by trying to break her of video games, you're basically trying to create a typical girlfriend. If you succeed, it'll only be a matter of time before she starts complaining that you spend more time raiding with your guild than you do taking her out, or that you should find a more grown-up hobby than games. Before you know it, you'll be married and your video games will be up in a garage sale like so many gamers before you.
Re:Give her my number, I'll fix things just fine (Score:2)
This is what is known as getting girls by hooking them onto heroin and then using it as a means to develop a social connection to them.
Re:Give her my number, I'll fix things just fine (Score:2)
not as bad as drugs... (Score:3, Interesting)
It's cool that you genuinely care about your girlfriend's well-being, but go watch an episode of Jerry Springer and see if you've got it so bad. Everyone needs their vice... at least she's chose one of the better ones.
Re:not as bad as drugs... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:not as bad as drugs... (Score:3, Informative)
It does impair you but people who do it habitually function remarkably well, I garentee you t
Re:not as bad as drugs... (Score:2)
Considering those studies that say the tech industry has around an 80% drug use rate, it would be hard to believe that someone going to work stoned with blow juice dripping down to their chin can't get the job done. The world would have fell apart years ago if that was the case.
Re:not as bad as drugs... (Score:2)
Ssshhhh, I think my boss reads /. and I don't want him getting any ideas.
Re:not as bad as drugs... (Score:1)
Not to state the obvious... (Score:2)
Re:Not to state the obvious... (Score:3, Funny)
-Rick
Re:Not to state the obvious... (Score:1)
Re:Not to state the obvious... (Score:2)
Lessons from Everquest (Score:5, Informative)
EverQuest Widows Discussion Board [yahoo.com]
On-Line Gamers Anonymous [ezboard.com]
Best of luck.
Does she still give sex? (Score:5, Funny)
No? Then no problem, your a geek and weren't going to get any anyway.
But if your desperate I suggest sneaking up on her when she is asleep and tying her to the bed and giving her more sex then a woman can handle. Let all the frustation of you years of being a geek virgin out and rock her boat.
Either it will give her a new appreciation of dating a geek (unlikely but you never know) or it will get you arrested and thrown in jail. Wich is still good since you at least lost your cherry and will soon loose another as you meet your new cell mate.
Anyone else thinks the chances of the original question being real are less then zero? Any real geek with a nethack addicted girlfriend would be to busy thanking god on his knees to post on /.
Re:Does she still give sex? (Score:2)
That was my thought too. I bought it at first, but by the end it felt like the submitter was trying too hard, and lost the sense of authenticity.
Indeed... (Score:2)
I was thinking more along the lines of from the editors-on-crack dept. Although, at least this one didn't have every "fi" substring deleted from the text, like yesterday's book excerpt.
ditching the habit (Score:5, Insightful)
When I got back to the states and felt the urge to play I just turned that energy into something that was more productive/social (I went to grad school, started playing basketball at the local gym, etc...). I don't really have a suggestion about how you should go about doing it because I don't know your friend, but the key is finding a variety of replacement activities (not just one as that will probably become another addiction if that is the only focus).
Dr. Phil wquld probably say... (Score:2)
That's what I think he would say... no idea if he would.
But yah dude... kill your Internet access for a few weeks... it should help her get back to normal.
Re:Dr. Phil wquld probably say... (Score:2)
She's not a child, nor is there a suggestion that she feels she is suffering from too much playing. The OP may feel left out, but that's not necessarily a problem with the Net-hack-like-game "addict" in question. He could very well be co-dependant for all we know. There is no indication that she as an individual is performing at-risk behaviors for herself. Suggesting that one cut off her ne
Re:Dr. Phil wquld probably say... (Score:1)
once downloaded, you need no type of internet connection to play.
heck, the game is so small (2MB when all zipped up) she could hide it just about anywhere
Re:Dr. Phil wquld probably say... (Score:2)
Go multiplayer. (Score:3, Insightful)
http://www.mangband.org/ [mangband.org]
Because an addiction shared is an addiction you can feel slightly less bad about.
MMPRPG Addiction (Score:1)
When I was 15 or so, my psichiatrist told me of a patient of hers who was so addicted to Everquest, that she could only handle talking to her son in-game.
Either that or I read it online... I can't really remember now. Lithium is murder for your memory. But I digress...
The real problem is the keyboard. (Score:4, Funny)
If that doesn't work, your last option is to go keyboardless. I suggest a mac, with the single button mouse. Be gentle with her, this is not an easy habit to break.
If all else fails you have one last hope... CoreWars.
12 Steps. (Score:5, Funny)
2) She has to realize, that her willpower alone isn't enough to overcome the problem.
3) She has to recognize that only Yendor has the power to solve her problem.
4-12) Play more Nethack.
The solution (Score:3, Funny)
Nethack is a wonderfully rich and complex game, but its depths are not infinite, just much greater than the norm. I don't play much Nethack anymore because, well, because I've ascended many of the character classes now, including the most challenging ones. That doesn't make the game less interesting, but ultimately you do start wanting something more, even from Nethack.
Once you finally learn the most relevent tricks, winning at Nethack isn't even hard. (Price IDing, strategies for early wishes, learning not to starve in the upper levels, figuring out how to make holy water and remembering to pray each help a lot.) So, point her to rec.games.roguelike.nethack, and to the many game spoiler sites on the Internet (in Nethack's case those sites are a lot more necessary to play than other games).
Then, once she's finally burnt out on the game, make sure she doesn't learn C and start adding onto the game herself. Then you might never get her back.
Re:The solution (Score:3, Funny)
"Then, once she's finally burnt out on the game, make sure she doesn't learn C and start adding onto the game herself. Then you might never get her back.
--
To the guy who moderates all my positive posts -1 Overrated: Have you considered getting a life?"
MilenCent, I have mod points and you can't imagine how hard it was not to mod you -1 Overrated.
Re:The solution (Score:2)
Now I have mod points, just meta-modded his +1 Funny as fair, and am having a hard time resisting moderating either of you as Overrated for kicks.
You have to face the facts (Score:1)
You had better jump on this right away... (Score:2, Funny)
Get rid of the addictive material. (Score:1)
Simple solution (Score:2)
Re:Simple solution (Score:2)
Interactive Fiction (Score:2)
Re:Interactive Fiction (Score:2, Funny)
You are in a room. Exits lead north and east.
You can see a *.
Suddenly a D attacks you!
>_
or...
It is very dark. Better be careful or you might be eaten by a g.
Get real help, not Ask Slashdot help (Score:2, Insightful)
If she wants to quit and can't, or you're concerned that
Get her on something less adictive (Score:1)
MapleStory (Score:1)
Re:MapleStory (Score:2)
netheck? (Score:1)
Wtf is nethack
A girl's best friend (Score:1)
Radical Intervention (Score:4, Funny)
whats so bad about being addicted to games? (Score:3, Interesting)
whats so wrong with letting her do something that gives her pleasure? why do you feel the need to meddle in other people's leisure-time hobbies? are you jealous that she spends more time with nethack than she does you? I think that you need to ask yourself these questions first.
I think you should be happy that she's found a fun, free (so long as she sticks to nethack), and geeky hobby. most guys would jump at the opportunity to have a game-addicted girlfriend. why aren't you?
Re:whats so bad about being addicted to games? (Score:2)
whats so wrong with letting her do something that gives her pleasure?
What makes you think it actually gives her pleasure? For many addicts, what they actually get, whether they admit it or not, is a way to hide from their problems. That can be fine in moderation, but I think one of the signs of a serious addition is that it makes the problems worse. Go take a look at the gambling addicts in any casino, or the obvious alcoholics in the bar. Does it look
Three Words (Score:5, Funny)
But you have to act it out with her. She gets her fix, you get yours.
"I tried sating the" (Score:2)
WoW (Score:2)
Her problem, not yours (Score:2)
I don't think there's an easy way to wean her. If ordinary temptation doesn't do the job, I'd suggest you go spend more time with others. Not particular in order to find another girlfriend, but when she notices that her habit berefts her of your company and favors, she might discover that she's missing something important.
If it doesn't, perhaps the amount of other interesting women on this planet just might be good for you.
Good luck!
seems to me... (Score:2)
Re:seems to me... (Score:2, Interesting)
Don't get her off of nethack... (Score:2)
Just break up with her.
Life is too short, move on.
I'd recommend YoHoHo Puzzle Pirates (Score:2, Insightful)
Pfeh, ADOM (Score:2)
Re:Pfeh, ADOM (Score:2)
When did he promise a source code release? Note that a plan to release the source does not qualify as a promise.
BTW, the reason it wasn't released was because a few loud individuals made it clear that they would not respect the copyright. Now, we have a game that has a few bugs, that is closed source, and is cheat protected.
Professional help (Score:3, Insightful)
Assuming that you're being serious, the first step is for her to recognise her addiction and voluntarily choose to address it. Encourage her to consider what the addiction is doing to her and people around her; but she must decide that something should be done.
Then seek professional help. Psychologists are trained to deal with addiction issues; not only treating the addiction, but also helping the person to integrate back into their family and social environment. A psychologist will also be able to help you understand what you should be doing to support her (in fact, you may even consider visiting one for advise on how to encourage her to seek help).
Follow Up to Ask Slashdot (Score:2, Informative)
1) It should be pretty clear I was being more than a little facetious. To those who shared the genuine stories of serious gaming addicition and offered advice - the problem is nowhere near as dire as that. But I hope anyone who is in that situation gets the help they need.
2) Yes, I appreciate having a geek-oriented girlfriend. No, I won't be passing on her details to anyone else >:-(
3) I will suggest broadening her gaming interests. We'll look into some of the titles
Breaking the sudoku habit (Score:2)
I'm pretty sure I've
Re:Be careful what you wish for (Score:1)
I think that's the problem, he isn't.